Plate-clamping mechanism for printing-presses.



- s. G. Goss. PLATE'CLAMPING MEGHANIS-M FORl PRINTING PRESSES.

' APPLIOATION FILED MAR.14,|1908.

905,173. Patented Dec. 1, 1905s.

' L\ v I z sHBBTs-sHEET 1.

Q2 G) iN I S. Gr'. GOSS. PLATE CLAMPING MEGEANISM POB PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..14, 1908.

Patented Dec.y 1, 1908.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i mechanism for rotary printing presses, land UNITED sfrrrrns rnf'rnfNfr' SAMUEL GQ GOSS,

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To 'IHneoss PRINTING PRESS COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION lOF ILLINOIS.

.5,Illinois," have invented certain new and .use

ful Improvements iii Plate-Clamping Mechanism for Printing -Presses', of which the l "following is aspecification, reference being had to. the accompanying drawings.v

My invention reltes to plate-clamping its object .is to provide clamping mechanism for holding plates upon the plate cylinder which can be operated quickly and easily,

which Ais positive in its action,l and cannot become loose after it is once tightened, and' will yet have a grip upon the plates slitticiently yielding to insure the holding of the plate at several points; and also to provide a new and improved mechanism bywliich the clamps may be' independentlyTv adjusted simultaneously moved ,to clamp theplate in place.

- AAs is well known, stereotyped plates, while. A- `formed' upon their edges which are engaged with the ,clamps with generalv accuracy,l

nevertheless are likely to vary somewhat from a perfectly straight edge.4 lf, there- 3o forepthe clamps are so constructed as to be I simultaneously moved to lock the plate inf place,

it is very likely that these irregularities in the edge of the plate which is engaged by the clamps will cause someof the clamps 35 to either not engage the plate at all or to improperly engage it, leaving the plate clamped by aninsuficient number of clamps. On the other hand, if the clamping is done by separately adjusting each clamp upon the 4oplate, this requires time, ,which,as' is well known, is of great value when a newspaper is going to press. Several devices have been tried to obviate these difculties, all of which are objectionable for one reason or another.

45,- For example, one mechanism used has been to provide a hollow shaft for the plate cylinder and to connect the plate clamps by means of levers with a bar'running through -vtlie hollow shaft, and by the movement of the bar to move the plat'eclamps simultane ously upon one plate.' Another device that has vbeen used was to provide each of the screws `by moved with a coarse pit-cliedthread,.and to gear all the clamps together whereby, by

l Specification' of Lettere Patent. applicationfinalmente,190e.l serial nacemos.

'whichthe plate clamps were,

" rLA'in-CLAMPING naci-ramen Fon rmN'rrNe-rnnssns.

Patented Dec. 1, i908.

operating any one of the gears b i lsuitable means, the clamps might be simu 'moved These devices have proved. objectime be powerful enough to hold .the plate 'and flexible enough to adjust themselves to irregularities in the plate edges, and because they could not for use upon a cylinder of three or more pages in width and 'for plate forms which might be of varying length-for example,

seven or eight columns 1n width when the 'column rules were circumferential of the plate cylinder. y

' It is the principal object of my invention' these difficulties may be obviatled, and clamping mechanism constructed in which the several clamps may he separately .adj ust- .I able to different widths of plates and may be also, when generally adjusted to the form and by which, when adjusted, they `may be` `that every clamp will engage theedge of the jplate. Y t i j It is the further object of my invention to fmprove plate-holding mechanism in sundry :respects hereinafter pointed out. A rInthe drawings,-'Figure 1 is a plan view :of one plate cylinder; Fig. -2 isan 'end view y,of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, being an isometric view of one of the movable .arms upon which the clamp operating screws are carried; Fig. l is an enlarged detail, being la view of a portion of one end of the cylinder, showing the` mechanism for moving the clamps and movable arms Fig. |5 is an enlarged detail,v being a 'section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail,being a view of one arm of the .togglelever. Referring to the drawin 5,-7 indicates a plate cylinder of the usua form and construction provided with hubs 8 and mounted on a shaft 9. 10 represents the central annular Vplate-stop of the usual form and construction mounted on said cylinder and ladapted to engage the inner ends of the plates. l l. 11 indicates stereotype plates carried on the cylinder 7. The cylinder 7 is provided atse'ach' end with a 'plurality of slots 12 extending a suitable distancevv into the cylinder longitudinally thereof, inv which are be satisfactorily constructed to provide mechanismv by means of ywhich' taneously tionable because they would not at the same I are adapte ceive a key 22, whereby,

nally thereof. 16`17 indicate 'two arms whichv together to be lifted out of' slidingly mounted plate clamps 13 which are also of the usual form and construction and are adapted to engage the outer. edges of the stereotype plates 11. i

14 indicates arms which, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are in an are shape concentric with the cylinder 7 and whose under side is adapted to slidingly rest upon the surface of. the cylinder at each end.l In the construction shown in the drawings these arms or movable members 14 are tour in number, two at eachend of the cylinder and one upon each semicircumference. The arms or movable members 14 are provided with downwardrejecting shoulders 15 which to enter into and slide within the slots 12 longitudinally of the cylinder, the arms thus being supported upon the cylinder near its ends so as to slide longitudi form a toggle-joint lever' and are pivotally connected with one another at their ends.

e arm 17 is pivotally connected at one end to a shoulder 18 which projects downward from the middle shoulder 15 and at. the inner end thereof and moves Within the plate cylinder 7.

As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the arm 16-is 'cut away at`its inner end to form a. circular shouldered recess 19 within which the free end of the arm 17 rests and turns, and they are held together pivotally, as above stated, by means of a screw 20 (see Fig. 5). e outer end of the arir 16 is pivotally mounted bet-Ween shoulders 41 which are secured to or preferably formed integral with semiannular plates 42 which are secured to the end of the cylinder with their inner surface aring upon the hubs 8. The inner end of the arm 16 at its pivotal point between the shoulders 41 is provided with a squared opening 21 which is adapted to reby means of a suitable wrench, the arm 16 may be turned so as to bring the arms 16-17 in alineinent and operate the toggle lever. The surface of the arm 16 is provided with a cam portion 23 having a notch 24 located upon. the central longitudinal line of the arm 16.

25 indicates a spring, which is secured upon the hub 8 at one end and has near its other end a'lug 26 which bears upon the cam surface 23 and is adapted to enter the notch 24 when the toggle levercomposed of the arms 16-17is turned to move the arm 14 and by its engagement thus to lock the arm in position. The spring is adapted engagement with the notch 24 by manually moving it away by means of the projecting end 2T. It will be obvious that, the parts being -in the position turning the key of a wrench, or other suitable shown in Figs. 1 and 4, by 22 by means mechanism, the two arms of the toggle lever the shoulders 15 will be brought into alinement with one another, moving the arms 14 inwards on the cylinder, the shoulders 15 sliding in the slots 12.

28 indicates pins which are journaled in the shoulders 15 of the arms 14 in suitable openings 29. The openings 2S) are expanded at the inner ends of the shoulders 15 to form chambers 30, and the pins 2S are provided at their inner ends with shoulders 3l adapted to move within the chambers 30 and preferably formcd integral with the pins 28.

32 indicates compression springs, which are mounted in the chambers 30 and bear against the shoulders 31 and the bottom of the chambers 30, thus permitting the pins 28 to yield outward against the pressure of the springs. The pins 28 are screw-threaded at their inner ends to receive nuts 33 to hold them in position.

34 indicates screws, which are adapted to engage suitable screw-tlireaded openings in the clamps 13 so that by their rotation the clamps may be moved inwards and outwards longitudinally of the cylinder, sliding in the slots 12. The outer ends of the screws 34 are provided with a )rejectingl enst 35 (see Fig. 5) ot' smaller diameter than tht iest of the screw and adapted to be journalrd in a suitable 28. The ends 3^' 'of the screws 34 are pro` vided with a circumferential groove .3G which, when the pins are in position, lies within the shouldei 31, and the screws are revolubly secured in the heads of the pins 28 by means of a hey 37.

38 indicates a head formed integral with the screws 34 and lying, as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, within the slots 12 between the plate clamps 13 and the inner surface of and provided with a plurality of openings 39 which are adapted to be en aged by a pin or wrench, or other suitabe tool, so as to turn the screws 34. By the turning of the screws 34 by means of the heads 38 the plate clamps 13 may be adjusted longitudinally of the cylinder, the screws and slots 34 being made of suiiicient length to cause and permit such movement of the clamps as may be desired Alor adjusting them to different widths of plates. The inner ends ot' the screws, as is best shown in Fig. 1, are provided with a` smaller projec tion 4() which is slidingly jomnalcd in suitable openings in the interior of the plate cylinder 7.

The operation of the devices above described as follows: The screws 34 being turned by means of the heads 38, the clamps 13 are separately adjusted upon the cylinder to correspond with the width of the plate desired to be used. The plates arc then placed upon the cylinder in the usual man ner, and by the operation of the toggle lever 1G-17 the arms or movable members 14 are gagement of the clamps yielding against the springs 32 to cause an engagement of all the A siied. to remove the plates clamps and to lock the plate firmly in posiv tion. The length of the screws and of the slots in which the plateclamps are mounted will, of course, de end upon the amount of adjustment desire ln the form in which my invention is illustrated l have shown a tWo-plate-Wide cylinder. It Athe cylinder is designed to hold either a seven-columii or an veighteolumn plate the adjustment, of the clamps willhave to be at least an amount equal to the amountvof one column.` ln case my devices should be used upon a double-Width cylinder, each end containing upon each semicircumference two plates, a change of plates from an eight to a seven column. Width will require, of course, an afl-- justinent of the clamps at least equal tothe Width of tivo columns, and so on. The movement ofthe arms or movable members to 'lock the plates-in osition and to free them to permit the p ates to be removed will lbe just suflicient to permit a clearance of the usual beveled-edge platesfrom the engaging edges of the clamps when the arms are moved away from the plates. llVhen the tivo arms of the toggle lever are moved into aliiiement and the plates engaged and locked upon the cylinders, in position by means of the shoulder 2G on the spring 25 engaging `the recess 2l on the ends of the toggle arm 16. When it is dethe spring 25 will be moved' to free the lug 26 from the shoulder 24 and the toggle lever operated by the squared pin 22 to bring the parts in the position shown in Fig. .4, and, moving the arms out-Ward, free the clamps from the cylinder.

l Ahave illustrated and 'described my invention as applied to a plate cylinder of a `circumference adaptedv to hold upon each A hal-t a plate u von each semicircumt'erence and with a pair of movable arms at each end of the cylinder each adapted to lock .one

plate in position, .and in so .tar as the circumference of the cylinder concerned this is the usual form of plate cylinder and the co'urse,

form which l prefer to use. lt is obvious, however, that Without departing from my invent-ion. a plate cylinder might be used of such circumference asr to carry more than tivo plates upon' each semicircumferencc, in which case the number of arms would, of

one of these movable e-platef. l illustration.

y and plate clamps `and movable longitudinally thereof, of an the armswill be locked from the cylinder,

be correspondingly varied as there i should,' of course, be

arms vqfc'nveach integral stereotyp 'have --also, `for convenience of shown my invention as applied to a singlewidth cylinder-that is to say, of a length sutlicient to carry two plates end to end. lt Will, of course, be obvious that my invention can be applied to plate cylinders of dierent lengtlis,-for instance, to plate cylinders in .printing presses of what is known as double-` width, that is to say, cylinders adapted to carry four plates abreast,--witliout any changes in structure except what is obvious to anyone skilled in the manufacture of printing presses.

While l have shown and described a plate cylinder, plate clamps adapted to engage the edge of a plate and movable longitudinally of the cylinder, a movable member, clalinp operating mechanism carried by said movable member and adapted to engage the clamps and separately 'adj ust the saine. on the cylinder, and means for moving said mov able member longitudinally of the cylinder,

I do not broadly claim that combination. I

herein, as that invention, broadly stated, is the invention of anotlie1,-namely, William Evensem-Who has filed application ior Letters Patent therefor.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire tol secure by Letters Patent, is,-

l.. The combination with a plate cylinder slidingly mounted thereon arm sliding'ly mounted on thesuriace of said cylinder, screws carried by said arm and each engaving one of said plate clamps. and a toggle lever engaging said arm and said cylinder and adapted by its operation to move said arm longitudinally on said cylinder.

2. In combination, a plate cylinder, a plurality ot slots on the end of said cylinder and. extending longitudinally thereof` a plurality of plate clamps mounted one in each of said slots and movable longitudinally therein, an arc-shaped armcarried on the end 'of `said cylinder and provided Withshoulders adapted to engage said slots and movable longitudinally therein, a plurality of spring-seated screws carried by said arm and adapted each to engage one; ifsaid clamps', a toggle lever connected at olie end with said plate cylinder and at tbe' other end with .said arm, and means ttor operating said toggle lever.

3. ln combination, a plate cylinder, slots in the end offsaid plate cylinder extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of plate clamps slidingly mounted onein each of said slots, au arc-shaped arm resting upon said cylinder and provided with'shoulders adaptcd each to slidingly engage one of said slots, a plurality Lof spring-seated pins carried by said arm, a4 plurality of screws revolubly secured one in'each of said pins and adapted to severally -engage said .plate clampaa toggle lever connected at one end with said plate cylinder and at the other end with said arm, means for operating said toggle lever to move said arm, and means for locking said plurality of pl ate clamps shdingly mounted one 1n each of said slots,an arc-shaped arm restmfr upon said y cylinder and provided with shoulders adapted .each to slidingly engage one of said slots, a pluralityof spring-seated pins carried by said arm, a plurality of screws revolublv secured one 1n cach of said pins and adapted to severally engage said plate clamps, means for turning said screws, a toggle lever connected at one end with and atY the other end with said arm` means for operating said toggle lever to move said arm, and means for lockingl said toggle lever in its extended position.

In combination, a plate cylinder, slots in the end of said plate cylinder extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of plate clamps slidingly mounted one in each of said slots, arms at each end of said cylinder and provided with shoulders adapted each to slidingly engage one of said slots, a plurality of spring-seated pins carried by said arm, a plurality of screws revolubly secured one in each of said pins and adapted to severally engage said plate clamps, means for turning said screws, a toggle lever connected at one end with sai-d plate cylinder and at the other end with said arm, means for operating said toggle lever to move said arm, and

extending i said plate cylinder' means tor locking said toggle lever in its 5 extended position.

(3. The combination with a plate-holding member, of a plate clamp slidingly mounted on said plate-holding member, a support., and a screw spring-.seated and Totatably mounted in said support and having its screw-thread ed portion in constant engagementv with said plate-clamp.

7. The combination with a plate cylinder, or" a plate-clam) sliding-ly mounted thereon, a support on said plate cylinder, and a screw spring-seated and revolubly mounted in said support and having its threaded portion in constant engagement. with said plate clamp.

S. The combination with a plate cylinder, and a plate clamp slidingly mounted thereon, of a support on said plate cylinder, a pin sliding'ly mounted in said support and sp1-higseated therein, and a screw rotatably mounted on saut pm and adapted to engage said plate clamp and by Sl.' The combination with a plate cylinder and a plate clamp longitudinally movable thereon, of a support and ascrcw having an Unthreaded portion at one end and a threaded portion at the other end slidingly and rotatably mounted at its unthreaded end in .said .support and springseated therein and having` its threaded portion in constant engagement with .said plate clamp.

SAMUEL G. GOSS. 1Witnesses J. J. llfaLsmr, Jin, j l). M. (huiver.

its rotation move the same longitudinally of said cylinder. 

